University signs Knowledge Exchange Concordat
By: Sean Armstrong
Last updated: Thursday, 7 January 2021
The University of Sussex has recently signed up to the Knowledge Exchange Concordat.
Knowledge exchange refers to maximising the impact of our research through knowledge-based interactions with all outside bodies e.g. other higher education institutions (HEIs), businesses, government and NGOs. All of which should result in economic and societal benefit to the UK.
To support such knowledge exchange, Sussex currently receives about £3.5m each year from Research England’s Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF).
From this year, universities in receipt of HEIF will be assessed against their comparators through the Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF). In future years universities’ HEIF allocations will be performance-based dependent on KEF performance.
The Knowledge Exchange Concordat aims to give us clarity of mission and to support our knowledge exchange development, giving our partners an accurate representation of the approach we are taking to knowledge exchange, and providing clear indicators of our performance. It also aims to stress how collaboration between universities and partners in various aspects of knowledge exchange can be beneficial to all participants.
The concordat has eight principles by which we develop our knowledge exchange approach:
1. Clarity of mission
2. Policies and processes
3. Engagement
4. Working transparently and ethically
5. Capacity building
6. Recognition and reward
7. Continuous improvement
8. Evaluating success
Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research and Enterprise, Keith Jones, said: “The Concordat is a foundation for raising future performance and by signing up to it we are able to make better-informed decisions about our strategic approach to knowledge exchange.
“Like many universities, Sussex already abides by the principles laid out in the Concordat. But it is important for us to use this mechanism to generate some clear indicators in processes and approaches that will see us strengthen our knowledge exchange practices.”
The Concordat process will involve submission of an action plan identifying five priorities across the eight principles on which progress is annually assessed and published.
The action plan assumes a strategic approach to knowledge exchange in which HEIs must identify the gaps in their approach and the actions to address them. Progress will be peer assessed and published.